An Episode With His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian

Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Catholic Family

Produced By MECC

Produced By MECC

“Momentum”

5-6-2026

This issue includes reports, videos, news, articles, and a full coverage of the latest developments of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), as well as the Church, Ecumenical, and social events…

This is in addition to the weekly word of the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs which is entitled in this issue “A Spiritual Summit at the Homeland-Message”.

You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/92d3d1e02469/momentum-mecc-weekly-newsletter.

You can also subscribe to the Momentum Newsletter via the following link:
https://mecc.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?id=fd3381352a&u=1db32cafe9ea32b38eb90480a.

Professor Michel Abs

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

The attacks that have shaken Lebanon over the past few months, continuing a long series of assaults that have devastated the country over years, and even decades, have disrupted many of the balances upon which societies generally are built.

Political, economic, psychological, and demographic balances have all been disturbed, along with other fragile equilibria that were never truly stable to begin with, given everything the country has endured, and continues to endure, over the past decades.

The latest war waged against Lebanon by forces of destruction, with each round usually harsher than the one before it, has produced major disruptions that will not easily subside in the foreseeable future, nor within the limits of the resources currently available. This has led to sweeping political, social, and economic chaos, further aggravated by social media platforms that open the door to those who seek to fish in troubled waters.

As a result of the large-scale displacement that took place over recent months, the first signs of internal tensions have begun to surface, along with attempts to tamper with civil peace. Everyone senses that a boiling cauldron is about to erupt, whenever the right elements of ignition become available.

In light of these realities, evident to any discerning observer, action was needed to address one of the most influential and effective factors capable of creating confusion and unrest in Lebanon: the sectarian factor. Political and security alignments are largely built upon political sectarianism, which formed the basis of the National Pact and was later reaffirmed at the end of the civil war.

Because of displacement, unemployment, poverty, and the pressure of limited living spaces, animosities have developed among some segments of the Lebanese people. These feelings have roots in both the recent and distant past, and have taken the form of mutual demonization among Lebanese groups, reinforced by hate speech that is being circulated and amplified through far-reaching social media platforms…

Produced by MECC

“Ecumenical Horizons” is a weekly program that features spiritual, cultural, intellectual, educational, youth and environmental topics.

In order to promote the concept of protection and safety among children, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through its Diakonia and Social Service Department – Syria’s Office, implemented awareness sessions targeting students in several private primary schools in Damascus and Rural Damascus.

The sessions focused on raising children’s awareness on personal protection concepts, sexual exploitation and harassment, and empowering them to distinguish between safe and unsafe behaviors. They also aimed to strengthen children’s ability to express themselves, respect the privacy and dignity of others, and understand the importance of speaking up and seeking help when exposed to any inappropriate behavior, without fear.